And So, The Final Chapter Begins...

Note that this was written after the prologue came out but before the main story released

Kara no Shoujo 3 is just around the corner and it’s the one Visual Novel that I’ve been waiting so long to read. It feels so surreal and yet it’s actually happening. Everything that the previous two games and more have been building up to will finally see its final conclusion. The trial is only just a premonition of things to come, but honestly, it leaves me very optimistic and excited for the rest of the story.

This feels like the true sequel to KnS, whereas KnS2 was more off an interlude and a send off to Cartagra. It definitely will conclude everything and I am excited to see where the road will finally end. It's been a long time coming but I can not wait to see everything to the bitter end.

I’ll start off by talking about the presentation. The music is wonderfully done and MANYO knocked it out of the park. Whether it's remixes of old tracks or new tracks all together, I can feel the emotion behind each piece and the weight they have. The menu theme in particular is stellar and really brings in a heavy sense of melancholic nostalgia. The solo guitar brings about a very personal sound and at its core, that’s what I feel Kara no Shoujo 3 will be, a personal journey for all the characters. The voice acting is as amazing as always. I love the way the VAs bring the characters to life and make them sound like real breathing people and not just characters on a screen.

The art is definitely different from the other two entries in the series. It has a more watercolor-esque aesthetic to it. While admittedly, it will probably take some time for me to become accustomed to it, I have complete faith in Sugina Miki in terms of the art direction. The watercolor style definitely makes everything seem more personal and ephemeral, which fits with what seemingly will be the core themes of Kara no Shoujo 3. While it looks less defined and more rough compared to Kara no Shoujo 2, it definitely has its charm and it still looks good on a technical level.

Everything feels so drastically improved so far compared to the other entries that if this quality continues throughout the whole VN, KnS3 will be my favorite VN no doubt. It feels a lot more personal, which was something I felt was lacking a bit in KnS2. Seeing the character's emotional state and just how broken they actually are is just heart-rending. Reiji and Masaki are both so broken and it really shows here. They both have gone through a lot and the prologue begins to show the pieces of their broken mentality. Also, their thoughts feel much more colorful and drawn out, giving further insight into their thought process and way of living.

The writing and pacing of the prologue was definitely good. There is always something happening, and even if it’s “just” slice of life, it shows a glimpse of the characters’ lives as they try to adjust to everything around them, whether it be Reiji trying to live a normal life, Masaki trying to learn how to feel again or Yukari trying to sort out her future. There is no meandering around as each scene serves to progress either the plot or characters. The writing is as melodic and descriptive as ever. Suzuka Miya is able to integrate so many ideas into the story and make the text flow really well. It is descriptive without feeling long winded, instead being able to describe things in such a compact manner. It’s a joy to read through as each line provides that small hook to continue further. It just has that magic to it that’s so hard to capture.

There’s a line early on in the prologue that says something to the effect of funerals not being for the dead, but for the living to learn how to cope. The way Kara no Shoujo 3 seems to be headed, this idea will be resonated throughout the whole story. This story will be the figurative funeral service for these characters as they piece back together their broken and fragile lives. Each one has their own struggles and here in the prologue, the seeds of salvation are only just starting to be planted. That in itself is a powerful message, but what makes it all the more poignant is that Kara no Shoujo 3 is, so far, able to make me care so much for these characters and situations more than ever before. the story is dyed with so much emotion that it just tears at my heartstrings. It’s not just the mystery I care about, I feel for these characters and their daily struggles as well. It just feels so powerfully human and evokes so much emotion within me.

And this is just the prologue to their final journey. If this sort of quality continues throughout the end, I will have no trouble calling Kara no Shoujo 3 my favorite Visual Novel. It accomplishes so much in so little time. Every single part of the story appeals to me in every facet possible and I’m honestly left in suspense waiting for the main story to final release. Innocent Grey has done an amazing job treating the Kara no Shoujo series with care and I’ll be waiting, ready to welcome the story's conclusion with open arms. Touko Kuchiki will finally have her final goodbye.